154 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



horses, all standing in a row. When I cast my eye up it, I could 

 not help fancying myself looking at King Solomon's stud, having 

 never seen so many horses in one stable before ; but in compliment 

 to the groom, I must say it bore no resemblance to that of Augeas, 

 for it was remarkably clean and sweet. A well-polished watering 

 bridle, neatly folded up, hung on the right side of each horse, and 

 there is a patent lamp between every fourth stall. Among the stud 

 were several very clever hunters ; and I recognised Cervantes, the 

 horse which occasioned the sad accident to his master by not 

 clearing his fence ; but I understand experience has since made him 

 perfect. In a box in the yard we were treated with a sight of Mr. 

 Osbaldeston's favourite horse, which he told me he thought was the 

 best hunter he ever threw his leg over in his life. 



Fox-hunting, to a man who is thoroughly fond of the sport, 

 scarcely admits of bounds ; and Mr. Osbaldeston alone would bear 

 me out in my assertion. He hunts his own pack six days in the 

 week, always rides his hack to covert, and is always the last to say 

 " enough." Lord Darlington is the only gentleman huntsman that 

 ever did this before, and it must require something more than 

 common excitement to induce any man to do it — particularly in so 

 difficult a country as Leicestershire, and where the fixtures lie so 

 wide. At all events he must be a well-bred one, or he would not 

 come again so quick. 



Assiduity and zeal are the first requisites in every situation which 

 man attempts to fill; and for these I am sure I may give Mr. 

 Osbaldeston his full measure of credit. Of his merits as a hunts- 

 man I scarcely feel myself qualified to speak, having been so 

 unfortunate in the weather during my visit to his country. In 

 my experience with hounds, however, I have always found a hunts- 

 man's fame to rise and fall wdth his sport, which is by no means a fair 

 way of judging him, as that depends on circumstances he cannot 

 control. So it is, however, on most other occasions. The good 

 opinion of the multitude is capricious ; it can only be kept up by 

 tribute, for they are apt to forget past services. Had Ceesar lost the 

 battle of Pharsalia, he would have been but little better than 

 Cataline — at all events it would not have been written " Ovinia 

 Ccesar erat." 



